By DAN KARELL
In a highly-anticipated matchup, Spain travel to Paris, France to take on Frank Ribery and Les Blues, in a match that will likely determine the winner of Group I, forcing the loser to have to qualify for the World Cup finals via the playoffs round.
England visit Montenegro, needing a win to take control of Group H. A loss by the Three Lions would put them five points back of Montenegro.
Also today, Netherlands faces Romania without Wesley Sneijder, Argentina and Lionel Messi travel up to the mountains of Bolivia, and upstart Venezuela hosts Radamel Falcao Garcia and Colombia in the evening.
If you will be watching today’s action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today’s TV schedule is after the jump):
TODAY’S SOCCER ON TV
3:30pm – ESPN3.com- Serbia vs. Scotland
3:30pm – ESPN3.com- Netherlands vs. Romania
3:45pm – ESPN3.com- Germany vs. Kazakhstan
3:45pm – Republic of Ireland vs. Austria
3:45pm – ESPN3.com- Belgium vs. Macedonia FYR
3:45pm – ESPN3.com- Poland vs. San Marino
3:45pm – ESPN3. com- Malta vs. Italy
4pm – ESPN2- France vs. Spain
4pm – GolTV- Montenegro vs. England
4pm – beIN Sport en Espanol- Bolivia vs. Argentina
5pm – beIN Sport- Ecuador vs. Paraguay
7:30pm – beIN Sport en Espanol- Chile vs. Uruguay
8pm – beIN Sport- Venezuela vs. Colombia
10pm – beIN Sport en Espanol- Panama vs. Honduras
10pm – beIN Sport- Costa Rica vs. Jamaica
10:30pm- ESPN- Mexico vs. USA
Check out the Venezuelan soccer’s website….it was hacked by Colombians!
http://www.federacionvenezolanadefutbol.org/
Chile just outplayed Paraguay. Chile is so good with their possession and the backline is solid. Forlan and the Paraguayos could only attempt long range bombs with nothing coming close. I’m loving this equipo Chileno. Super bueno!
Why is Fernando Torres pictured above?
Israel is going to the world cup
second half of Ecuador Paraguay should be good. Playing in Quito and tied game.
I guess I’m not the only one having productivity issues at work today
And my dumb boss still hasn’t caught on. Either that, or she just doesn’t care. I did just close a big deal for us though, so maybe i’m just getting a pass haha
What a play from Valdes! Awesome save!
Victor Valdes!
WHAT A SAVE!
Soft yellow there. Ugh, so much for the exciting end to this game.
Yeah moving on to the England Montenegro its tied 6 mins left.
This is one of the best performances from Ribery I’ve ever seen. Certainly among the best since the ’06 Cup.
Spain has no answer for him. He’s effortlessly going through several defenders at every go.
That second yellow was really soft.
Don’t think it was soft at all.
Imagine if you’re the official and a player does something reckless like going into a header with your knee at head height… you give him a talking to and he follows that up in literally the next play by going recklessly into a 50/50 with your studs exposed and missing the ball completely.
If he does that at any other point it’s probably not a yellow, but if you were carded not 30 seconds prior and warned, you’re going to pay for that.
I don’t think it was reckless. Thought it was a foul and move on.
I didn’t the first challenge was all that bad. He got up first and he’s got serious hops. He gets a yellow for having the knee extended, but I’ve seen guys lead with elbows in the exact fashion/make similar contact that don’t get a yellow.
And yes, he could’ve avoided the challenge and should have considering the context. But it was still a soft yellow. I didn’t think it was a cardable offense.
Chitown, A, Adrian, what ever you want to be called. All those calls were weak. There is contact allowed in this sport. Just because Pogba is able to out jump every spanish player doesnt make it a foul. Just because a spanish player gets his ankled knicked as he curls up into a ball before any contact doesn’t make the tackle reckless. Just because a spanish player is out muscled shoulder to shoulder doesn’t make it a foul. You complain about every little foul in every single game.
Pogba ejected for just… being dumb.
He knees someone in the back of the head for a yellow. And then 30 seconds later goes full studs exposed into Xavi’s ankle/foot for his second yellow.
You guys should read Caste Football Soccer Forum. We document all the idiot black mistakes. Some of them are so absurd they will surprise you
He is so lucky that wasn’t a straight red card. Kneeing someone in the back of the head is not advisable.
Spoke too soon. I’d rather the first be straight red than that weak yellow.
Is Paul Pogba this good or is my hate for United making him much better than he looks.
Is that Pedro wasting time was about that time.
That good? What game are you watching. That idiot and all other blacks on France are playing very poorly. Two yellow cards in a span of one minute by Pogba….typical black bonehead mistake
Good but stupid. Still a soft yellow.
Last time Evra was abused this much the FA fined Suarez and suspended him 8 games.
Sorry in poor taste but as a Liverpool fan there’s noone I dislike on United more. And he is getting burnt anytime his back is to goal.
Great hold-up play from Ribery lol. Should probably be 1-1
Looked to be an own goal to me
I’ll take half of Ribery’s skill and flair on the ball. Just half. Please.
His handle is sick. Maybe 10 people in the world are better with the ball at their feet.
His touch is perfect.
Not joking, I think he might possibly be able to juggle an egg for a few touches.
Who scored that? Is that an Evra own goal or did Pedro get that first? Need eagle eyes!
Loris with a huge first save.
I thought Pedro got his foot on it.
Now Patrice Evra and Jallet get caught out. Patrice is late tracking the run, and the mistakes are punished by Spain.
This referee isn’t calling this game evenly. I didn’t see the suppossed missed penalty but, in the parts of the game I have seen, he is letting the French players get mauled and as soon as a Spanish player gets touched and goes down it is a foul.
Pedros’ knee was a few inches off the ground before contact was made…he went down looking for a call. These guys (soccer players in general) have become so clever…it’s pretty damn hard for refs these days. But I think this was a good call. Yeah…I said it.
Though honestly…it would be called 9 of 10 times. 🙂
Is anyone else watching the Spain v. France fixture? Easily the worst blown call I’ve seen in years. I simply have no words for how ridiculous it is that France is not down a man.
If that call keeps the defending champions Spain out of the World Cup… wow. In a match between teams this good there aren’t going to be many chances. Referee had one big call to make and he blew it so, so bad.
Half time now and seeing the replay–just have to shake your head. Pedro touches the ball past Hugo Loris who goes to ground and bowls right into Pedro who is also being pushed from behind.
That’s a red card in my sunday league–and they’ve let us fight before.
If Spain doesn’t make the World Cup, they’ll have no one to blame but themselves.
I’m not defending the call. i’m saying they have 10 games and if they are the best team in the world they’ll qualify anyway.
Ref was reading our commentary decided France should be down a man. That second yellow was weak.
is beIn sport a part of Verizon in NJ yet? i checked on Saturday and still nothing.
It will be a miracle if the France – Spain referee ever gets a big match again. That is up there with the all time blown calls I’ve ever seen.
France should be a keeper down and a goal down.
this french fan agrees.
Xavi is going to want that shot back. Sky’ed it from inside the six yard box.